In Focus
A biker on the Montour Trail exits the National Tunnel in Cecil Township.
An old, abandoned church comes to life as the sun sets on its bell tower.
Red flares light up the sky at the scene of an accident.
Gaylene Eckleberry of Waynesburg brushes her horse before a riding lesson at Coventry Equestrian Center, Chartiers Township.
Kids play football in the parking lot of Fort Cherry High School.
By Celeste Van Kirk
Photojournalist
cvankirk@observer-reporter.com
It can be a challenge to find a feature photo.
On a recent assignment, I was waiting for an event to begin, and could hear kids playing on a hillside behind me. So, I changed a few settings on my camera and stood there, hoping the small tumbleweed of giggles and laughter would make its way up to the top of the hill. It would be perfect situation for a silhouette, with the background brighter than the foreground and subject.
Out of the shadow, the children emerged just long enough for a few clicks of my shutter, and then they disappeared back into the darkness.
A silhouette creates a feeling of drama, mystery, emotion and mood. An ordinary image or scene becomes extraordinary if shot as a silhouette. I look for every opportunity to capture one.
Here are a few tips in photographing a silhouette.
1. Choose a subject with a strong and recognizable shape or outline.
2. Position yourself in the right spot, where the subject is being lit from the back instead of the front.
3. Turn your flash off.
4. Use an aperture of f8 or higher.